Sage cookie and similar technology information

Cookies are small pieces of information stored on your computer, tablet or mobile phone when you visit a website. Sage uses cookies to make our website and services work better for you and we recommend you leave cookies switched on. If you're happy with this, then just click OK at the bottom of the page. If you don't, you'll still be able to use the site but some things might not work properly. We also use other technologies to track your visits and behaviour on our website. Please read our privacy policy for further details. Again, if you’re happy to keep those technologies switched on, then just click OK at the bottom of the page.

Functional cookies

Functional cookies remember things like your user name, language or the region you are in, and personalise other features. These cookies also retain the way you have customised web pages – for example, text size and fonts. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.

Performance and analytics cookies

We use these to gather information about how visitors use our website, products and services. For example, they tell us which areas get the most visitors and if users get error messages from web pages. You can't be identified from these cookies and all information is anonymous. We only use these cookies to improve how our website, products and services work.

Targeting or advertising cookies

To make sure you don't see an advert too many times we use cookies to limit their frequency. We also use them to try to make sure that you see offers that are relevant to you and your interests. Some cookies and similar technologies may be used by advertising networks or other third parties with Sage's permission. These help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They may also be used to track and share information about your visit with Sage, advertisers and others. These may also be linked to site functionality provided by the other organisations. You can change your cookie and similar technology preferences now or at any time in the future.

Survey shows managing finances and budgeting are big challenges for new academies

A survey of more than 500 education professionals throughout the UK has revealed the pressures on schools moving to academy status. More than a quarter report that they don't have the right tools to manage their school's finances.

Of those interviewed, 50% of the professionals working in academies said they now have more freedom over their budget. But importantly, 35% still say the single greatest challenge is managing finances and budgeting and more than a quarter reported that they don’t have the right tools to manage those finances.

Increased accountability is another consequence of schools moving to the academy model. One respondent commented: “It’s about budgeting, tendering and decision-making without support from the local authority. You’re totally accountable for all procedures and actions taken at a local level and must cope with the consequences.”

What’s more, the pressure placed on resources in schools has led to 70% of the head teachers and 78% of the deputy head teachers surveyed reporting that they spend up to a quarter of their working week managing their school’s finances. In addition, 68% say that since becoming an academy they are under more pressure to cut costs.

While this survey highlights that there are still significant challenges with the transition to academy status, there is also a positive impact. For instance, 53% of all survey respondents reported that improved financial management would enable them to provide better facilities and equipment for students, while 30% said it would improve the quality of education.

Since 2010, the number of academies has risen dramatically; a move that was introduced to give schools greater control over their operations, curriculum and management.

Mike Rohan, Sage for Education Business Development Manager said: “The survey results clearly demonstrate that there are a significant number of areas where schools need support to benefit from the positives the academy model can bring.

“The most critical point is ensuring schools have the right support and technology to enable them to continue to put the best interests of the pupils first and for the management of finances to not negatively impact that.

“At Sage this is exactly what we are keen to do; free organisations from the administrative burdens they face so they can do what they do best and use awesome technology to help them realise their ambitions.”

For further insight, and to find out what schools can do to make their transition to an academy more efficient and effective, download the full report.